Legacy on the Wall

by Reina Laine

Legacy on the Wall is a friendship-first YA contemporary novel about art, community, and finding your people.

Fifteen-year-old artist Isla Reyes has grown up with the same friends, familiar streets, and traditions in her small Florida Gulf Coast town. Then a newly merged high school brings unexpected people into her close-knit circle, changing sophomore year in ways she didn’t expect.

Mangrove Point is preparing for its fiftieth annual mural competition, this time to design the town’s final mural panel. Isla is determined to win the competition and leave her mark on the place she has always called home.

As friendships shift and new connections grow, Isla must decide what she is willing to risk to make room for something new without losing the people and place she already loves.

Set against coffee shops, bookstores, boardwalk sunsets, and a nostalgic Florida coastal town, Legacy on the Wall is a coming-of-age story about creativity, found family, growing up, and learning that belonging doesn’t always mean keeping everything the same.

299 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2026

About the author

Reina Laine writes friendship-first young adult stories filled with coastal towns, found family, nostalgia, and the quiet moments that change everything.
Her debut novel, Legacy on the Wall, is set in the fictional Florida Gulf Coast town of Mangrove Point, where art, community, and one unfinished mural bring a group of teens together.
She lives in Florida with her family and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book. A good pick for several age groups and perfect for middle school and high schools kids. I also enjoyed it as an adult. It was a nice easy read. You’ll follow along with Isla, Kai, Daisy and the rest of the friend group while they deal with a lot of normal teenage issues: the annoying “pick me”, the importance of honesty, very touching friendship moments, examples of how hard work and determination pay off and much more.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I keep wanting to know more each time I had to stop. When I was at work all I could think about was the book and what’s next. I appreciated the short chapters and if I were a YA it would keep my attention. This was pretty nostalgic for me when I was reading it. I felt like I was apart of Mangrove Point. Can’t wait for more and looking forward to the playlists 💜

[Rebecca Romancky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book!! I live local to the fictional town of Mangrove Point, on the Gulf Coast of Florida, and could easily see myself in the locations, interacting with the characters. It was a lighthearted read and sucked me in from the very first chapter. I found myself thinking ahead, trying to envision what would happen to these teenagers I'd gotten to know, rooting for their successes and their friendships. I found myself turning page after page, waiting to see how it would all turn out. For a debut novel, I am most impressed. Two thumbs up, and I can't wait to see where the series goes!

[Morgan Fortson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book to read as an ARC reader.
I really enjoyed this book! It hit me right in the nostalgia. The characters are relatable and the storytelling really allowed me to feel like I was in the town of Mangrove Point! This book is an easy read and perfect for teens and young adults (or young at heart)!

[Heather Normand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Kimma · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

*I read an advanced reader copy of this book but I also purchased it when it was released*

I loved being able to go back to an area I grew up in. Mangrove point may not exist but the vibes of Gulf Coast Florida do and it was great to revisit it. This book follows Isla and her friends during a time where schools merge and the town is celebrating 50 years. Start of highlighted quote:It's a great book for teens and young adults about friendship and going for what you're passionate about. I can't wait to return to mangrove point.

[Heather Hays]

I was distracted throughout the novel by questions.

Why is that high schooler making fun of someone else for being rich when she’s literally driving a Mercedes herself? Why is the entire friend group falling apart just because someone annoying is Kai’s cousin? The protagonist is acting like he betrayed her but like… why are you mad about who his cousin is? Why is the entire group randomly laughing? Should the protagonist really be running off to kayak by herself without a life jacket and without notifying anyone? Why are they all acting like it isn’t obvious what Avery did and like there isn’t a very simple solution to that problem?

Chapters are extremely short, sometimes only a few pages, and there were inconsistent shifts in POV. Third person limited, but randomly changing to other characters without rhyme or reason? At one point it shifts to the POV of a character that barely even makes an appearance in the story.

Honestly, if the author just went back and added a few pages to each chapter I think that would fix a lot of what’s wrong with the novel. Continuity, character development, and plot all suffer from a lack of substance despite there being 50+ chapters.

YA doesn’t need to mean lack of substance. Ella Enchanted, Z for Zachariah, The Book Thief. All great YA in completely different genres with great plots and character development. The reader needs to spend time with the characters, get to know the setting, and learn to care about what happens to them all. That takes pages of build out and you can’t do that if the chapter is just “they left school, ate french fries, then laughed”.

Forgot to mention, I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy. As a Florida girl myself I love reading books set in this state. Unfortunately this missed the mark for me.